Air mattress and hammock combination



1966 J. 1. HARVEY, JR

AIR MATTRESS AND HAMMOCK COMBINATION Filed Nov. 25, 1964 FIG.@

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INVENTOR. v (DA/IE5 I. hAeI/EYJZ United States Patent 3,286,285 AIR MATTRESS AND HAMMOCK COMBINATION James I. Harvey, Jr., Suite 1510, Crossroads of the World,

6671 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 412,940 16 Claims. (Cl. 5-348) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a stress transmitting and minimizing top-surface-loading structure having upper and lower panel members, with the upper panel member being adapted to receive thereon a load and with the lower panel member comprising a tension panel member connected at longitudinally spaced ends thereof with respect to a pair of auxiliary support members, and with stresses resulting from the load adapted to be received by the upper panel member being compressively transmitted to the lower panel member by intervening stress-transferring compression means. In other words, in a broad sense, it can be said that the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to receive a load upon its upper surface along a substantially horizontal plane and to transfer stresses produced thereby to a lower tension panel member which is adapted to lie in a downwardly looped or curved manner between rigid auxiliary end support members, to which it is connected, in a manner simulating the appearance of a catenary in side elevation whereby to transmit and minimize stress at the junctions of opposite ends of said lower tension panel member to said rigid auxiliary end support members.

In one exemplary form of the invention, the abovementioned longitudinally spaced rigid auxiliary end support members may actually comprise horizontally directed, longitudinally spaced, substantially parallel end support bar members carried by a supporting framework means, which is usually collapsible and foldable, of a type similar to that conventionally employed in conventional prior art foldable cots which normally carry a substantially horizontal tension panel therebetween. Also, in this exemplary form of the present invention, the above-mentioned stress-transferring compression means may effectively comprise fluid-containing mattress means, such as air mattress means or the like, although not specifically so limited in all forms of the invention, effectively positioned between the upper panel member and the lower tension panel member which is connected at opposite ends to the two longitudinally spaced end support bar members of the supporting framework means, thus providing, in effect, a hammock-like structure having a compressible air-containing mattress carried thereby and having a substantially horizontal top surface upon which a person may recline in comfort and case. However, the important point to note is that the horizontal top surface of the air mattress and/ or the upper panel member referred to above do not directly transfer stress to said longitudinally spaced end support bar members of said supporting framework means in the manner of conventional prior art cots, but, instead, transfer the stress resulting from a person reclining thereon directly downwardly through the air mattress to the'upper surface of the lower downwardly curved and looped tension panel member which then transmits tension through opposite attachment end portions thereto to said end support bar members. This has the effect of greatly minimizing the stress and loading applied to said longitudinally spaced end support bar members carried by the supporting framework means and thus makes it possible to make same of relatively lightweight construction, as is also true with respect to the rest of the supporting framework means comprising the hammock-like structure.

The above-mentioned stress-minimization at the attachment points of opposite attachment end portions of the centrally downwardly looped lower tension panel member with respect to the longitudinally spaced end support bar members of the supporting framework means occurs because of the substantial downward deflection thereof below a horizontal plane. In other words, the included angle between a true horizontal plane and the actual plane in which either of said opposite attachment end portions of said lower tension panel member lies is sufliciently great as to produce a very great minimization of the stresses applied to said end support bar members as compared with the extremely large stresses applied to end support bar members of a conventional cot wherein the body-supporting panel member lies very nearly in a horizontal plane with a very slight depression therebelow of opposite connection or attachment end portions thereof. For example, in an ordinary cot in which the top panel which is conventionally made of fabric is stretched over a rigid frame, a load of two hundred pounds applied to the top surface of the substantially horizontal fabric panel and deflecting same downwardly so that connection or attachment end portions thereof define an angle of substantially 3 /2 degrees below a true horizontal plane will place a stress of substantially 8 times 200 pounds, or 1600 pounds, on the rigid support members of the frame, thus tending to collapse the frame toward the center of the cot unless it is made of very strong and, therefore, necessarily relatively heavy construction. Contrast this with the highly desirable arrangement provided by the present invention wherein the lower tension panel member may be centrally downwardly curved and looped so as to substantially simulate a catenary in side elevational appearance and so that the attachment end portions thereof will each lie at an angle of substantially 14 /2 degrees below a true horizontal plane, thus causing a 200 pound load applied to the center of the upper panel, when transmitted downwardly through the compression means comprising the air mattress to the center of the curved downwardly looped lower panel portion, to apply only two times 200 pounds or 400 pounds to the end support bar members of the supporting framework means. This obviously makes it possible to manufacture said end support bars, and the complete supporting framework means, of relatively low strength and consequently relatively lightweight material.

The above-mentioned advantageous stress minimization feature of the present invention has been employed to a degree in prior art hammocks, but they provide an undesirable type of upper surface for the reception of a persons body since the deep downward curve of such a prior art hammock is not a position conducive to the best rest or sleep which is normally provided by a substantially horizontal upper surface, which said prior art hammocks have not provided.

However, it will be noted that the novel apparatus of the present invention does provide such a horizontal upper surface upon which a person may recline and yet has all of the above-specified stress-minimization features with respect to the attachment of opposite ends thereof to the end support bar members. In other words, the apparatus of the present invention, in the exemplary form referred to above, has all of the loading advantages of the hammock and has all of the sleeping advantages of a conventional horizontal-to-surface-loading inner spring or air mattress, and these advantages are achieved when using a relatively lightweight supporting framework means which is preferably collapsible and foldable, thus making a readily portable cot apparatus which can carry a very heavy person and yet be much lighter than conventional prior art cots.

It should be noted that, while the exemplary form of the invention referred to above wherein it is used as an effective mattress for cooperation with a relatively lightweight supporting structure means, is a particularly advantageous application of the present invention, it is not specifically so limited in all forms of the invention but may be employed wherever an upper surface which is substantially horizontal is to receive a load and is to compressively transmit the stresses resulting therefrom to a downwardly deeply curved lower tension panel member, which is connected at two or more points to rigid auxiliary support members, with a minimized stress transfer occurring at said connection and support points. Also, it should be noted that other types of compression means may be employed in lieu of fluid or air within a confining enclosure, such as the air mattress means of fluidcontaining mattress means, referred to hereinbefore.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel stress transmitting and minimizing top-surface loading structure which, in certain forms of the invention, may effectively comprise a mattress structure adapted to be tension connected to at least two longitudinally spaced auxiliary end support members and having a substantially horizontal top loadreceiving surface upon which a person may recline.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to in the preceding object, wherein said longitudinally spaced end support members are carried by a relatively lightweight supporting framework means which, in certain forms thereof, may be of a collapsible and foldable nature whereby to comprise a readily portable cot and wherein said support members and said supporting framework means carrying same are positively included in combination with the remainder of the apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to herein, having the advantages referred to herein and including the features referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and individually or in commbination, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive construction adapted for large-scale mass manufacture at very low cost whereby to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the hereinbelow described figures of the accompanying single drawing sheet and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially broken away, threedimensional view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the invention in fully assembled operative relationship suitable for the receiving of a load, such as the reclining body of a person on the substantially horizontal top surface thereof. In other words, this form of the invention essentially comprises a controllably collapsible and foldable combination cot and pneumatic mattress.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 22 of FIG. 1 and illustrates an exemplary one of the two longitudinally spaced end support members and the corresponding connection or attachment portions of the novel stress transmitting and minimizing top-surfaceloading mattress structure carried therebetween.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the interior construction of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3 enclosed within the broken line circle and designated by the arrow at 4.

FIG. 5 is another enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View somewhat similar to FIG. 3 but taken in a plane perpendicular thereto substantially as indicated by the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic schematic side elevational view of the present invention considered in a broad generic sense wherein the compression means may comprise fluid-containing mattress means of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, or any other suitable compression means positioned between the upper substantially horizontal load-receiving panel member and the lower tension load-carrying centrally downwardly curved panel member for effectively compressively interconnecting same.

Generally speaking, the exemplary first form of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 may be said to comprise a stress transmitting and minimizing topsurface-loading structure, generally indicated at 11, which includes an upper panel member 12 which normally lies in a substantially horizontal plane, and a lower tension panel member 13 somewhat longer than the upper panel member 12 and normally adapted to lie in a centrally downwardly deeply curved position wherein it effectively simulates the appearance of a catenary as seen in side elevation. The lower tension panel member 13 is provided at opposite longitudinal ends thereof with tension attachment portions 14, as is best shown in FIG. 2 with respect to one of same. Said tension attachment portions 14 effectively comprise loops adapted to receive therein corresponding longitudinally spaced ones of a pair of horizontally directed and substantially parallel elevated end support bar members 15 whereby to provide a very effective and stress-minimizing connection between opposite attachment end portions 14 of said lower centrally downwardly curved tension panel member 13 and said end support bar members 15, which are connected to a supporting framework means, indicated generally at 16, which is adapted to rest upon a support such as a horizontal ground surface as is indicated at 17 in FIG. 1, and thereby suspend the lower panel member 13 above the support to maintain the curved configuration thereof.

Also, in the exemplary first form of the invention illus trated, opposite ends of the above-mentioned upper panel member 12 are provided with longitudinally spaced attachment end portions 18 adapted to also be connected with respect to the above-mentioned longitudinally spaced end support bar members 15 of the cot-like framework means 16. In the example illustrated, as best shown in FIG. 2, with respect to one of said attachment end portions 18, it can be seen that it is cemented or otherwise afiixed to a portion of the underlying loop comprising the attachment end portion 14 of the lower tension panel member 13. This is possible because the upper panel member 12 does not carry any substantial load in tension, although when connected as best shown in FIG. 2, it does comprise a tension panel member to a very slight degree. The major tension load is carried by the lower panel member 13 and its longitudinally spaced attachment end portions 14, such as the exemplary left one clearly shown in FIG. 2. In fact, in this connection, it should be noted that, in certain forms of the invention, the upper panel member 12 may not even have such attachment end portions, as shown at 18, and may not comprise a tension panel member at all, but may merely be positioned spacedly above the lower tension panel member 13 and maintained in a substantially horizontal plane thereabove by effectively intervening stress-transferring compression means, such as is generally indicated at 19 in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5.

It will be noted that this arrangement will effectively transfer any stress resulting from a load received on the top of the compression means 19 directly downwardly to the upper surface of the lower tension panel member 13, which will then apply tension, by way of the two longitudinally spaced tension attachment portions 14, to the two rigid longitudinally spaced end support bar members 15.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, said stress-transferring compression means, generally designated at 19, comprises a flexible contr-ollably expandable and collapsible mattress means adapted to be filled with a pressurized fluid, such as air or the like, although not specifically so limited, for expanding same into an operative use relationship such as is shown fragmentarily in FIGS. 1 and 3 and for controllably collapsing same when the entire device, including the compression mattress 19 and the framework means 16, is to be collapsed and folded into a very small space volume for easy portability and/ or storage.

In the exemplary form illustrated, the stress-transferring compression means, comprising an air mattress means 19, has an air-impervious top thin-sheet wall portion 21, a lower air-impervious thin-sheet wall portion 22, a pair of similar side wall portions 23, and opposite longitudinally spaced closed end junction portions, the right end one of which is indicated at 24 (it being understood that the left end one of which is identical, although positionally reversed) with all of said wall portions and end junction portions being effectively joined and/ or connected together whereby to define a complete enclosure therein which is capable of being effectively fully expanded into a relationship such as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 when pressurized air is fed thereinto through valve means 25, which comprise a conventional type of check valve such as is employed on pneumatic tires or which may comprise any other suitable type of control valve means operable for both filling and emptying the hollow enclosure defined within the air mattress means 19 for either fully expanding same or for allowing the complete collapsing of same when the entire device is to be collapsed and folded up into a small space volume configuration.

In the exemplary form illustrated, the top thin-sheet wall portion 21 is joined along a plurality of longitudinally spaced, substantially parallel, transversely directed junction lines, as indicated at 26, to corresponding portions of the upper panel member 12 and the upper flanged portions 27 of a plurality of interconnectingshape-retaining tension strip portions 28.

In the exemplary form illustrated, each of said junction lines 26 is formed by sewing or the like, as indicated at 29 as best shown in FIG. 4, and by an intervening adhesive material, as best shown at 31, adapted to increase the efficiency of the fastening junction and to insure the complete sealing of the top thin-sheet wall portion 21.

The lower air-impervious thin-sheet wall portion 22 is similarly fastened at a plurality of longitudinally spaced junction lines 26 by thread means and adhesive means similar to those shown at 29 and 31 with respect to the top fastening junction lines 26 (but not shown in detail in connection with the fastening of the bottom or lower thin-sheet wall portion 22 at said plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely directed junction lines 26). Similar fastening arrangements are provided for each of the two laterally spaced side thin-sheet wall portions 23, which are joined by a plurality of longitudinally spaced, substantially vertically directed junction lines 26' to the corresponding side panels 32 connected between the top and bottom panel members 12 and 13each of said plurality of vertically directed laterally spaced rows of junction lines 26 being similar to the exemplary top one shown at 26 in FIG. 4 and being fastened by sewing and adhesive fastening means similar to that shown at 29 and 31, respectively, in FIG. 4.

Opposite junction edges, such as the right one shown at 24 in FIG. 1 of the mattress means 19, are sealingly joined together in an air-impervious manner. This is also true of all other edges of all wall portions of the mattress means 19 which are not integrally formed. In other words, the mattress means 19 is completely air-impervious around all such joined edges, and the top wall portion 21, the bottom wall portion 22, and the pair of side wall portions 23 are all fastened at similar longitudinally spaced locations by the plurality of junction lines 26 and 26' with respect to the inner upper panel member 12, the lower tension panel member 13, and the side panels which are connected by tension strips 28 which effectively comprise what might be termed interconnecting shaperetaining means which acts to cause the mattress means 19 to assume the desired shape, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when fully inflated and expanded. In other words, said shape-retaining means prevents the mattress means 19 from blowing up into a form attempting to simulate a sphere when fully inflated and allows only the plurality of outwardly convex fluted parts of the mattress means 19 between the various junction lines 26 and'26' freedom for expansion to a degree such as is perhaps best shown in FIG. 3, wherein said top thin-sheet wall 21 roughly lies in a substantially horizontal plane, at least insofar as the uppermost portion of each of said fluted parts thereof are concerned, and certainly insofar as the average height of all such fluted portions of the top thin-sheet wall portion 21 is concerned.

It should be noted that the shape-retaining tension strip portions 28 interconnecting the upper and lower panel members 12 and 13, the side panel portions 32 also interconnecting said upper and lower panels 12 and 13, and, indeed, said upper and lower panel members 12 and 13 themselves, are all made of a relatively porous airimpervious fabric material which may be said to be effectively apertured whereby to provide for the free passage of air therethrough. However, as an alternate arrangement, various portions thereof may be provided with actual holes such as shown in phantom at 33 for facilitating the passage of air therethrough.

It will be noted that the arrangement is such that the filling of the air mattress 19 by way of the valve means 25 causes air to flow freely through the apertured ele ments just referred to and lying within the air mattress 19 so as to completely fill the 'hollow enclosure within the air mattress 19 until it is fully expanded into a configuration such as shown fragmentarily in FIGS. 1 and 3. Then the source of pressurized air is removed from the filling valve 25, and the device is ready for the reception of a large area heavy load on the top surface of the complete device and effectively on the upper panel member 21 by way of the top thin-sheet wall portion 21 of the mattress means 19 connected to, and carried by, said upper panel member 12.

Such a heavy load may comprise the body of a person reclining thereon, and it will be noted that the compressed air within the air mattress means 21 comprising the stress-transferring compression means in this exemplary form of the invention, transfers the stresses resulting from the weight of the persons reclining body directly downwardly by compression to the lower tension panel member 13. This actually occurs by way of compressive force being applied to the upper surface of the lower thin-sheet wall portion 22 of the air mattress 19 which is affixed to, and carried by, said lower panel member 13.

Thus, it will be seen that the compressive load of the persons reclining body on the top of the air mattress 19 is effectively transferred to the lower centrally downwardly curved tension panel member 13 which, in turn, transfers by tension at opposite ends thereof and through the tension attachment end portions 14 thereof, stress produced by said reclining person to the longitudinally spaced end support bar members 15 and does so in a highly advantageous manner acting to minimize the transferred stresses as set forth in considerable detail hereinbefore.

The above-mentioned stress-minimization feature is based upon the included angle theta at each end, as illustrated at one end (the left end) in FIG. 2, which comprises the angle of depression of each end of the lower tension panel member 13 below a true horizontal angle. When the angle theta is relatively great the tension stresses applied by each end attachment portion 14 to each auxiliary end support bar member 15 are minimal, thus making it possible to provide an extremely lightweight supporting framework means, such as that exemplified at 16 in FIG. 1, for mounting each of said auxiliary end support members 15 in the proper rigid longitudinally spaced relationship clearly illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the example illustrated, it will be noted that the framework means 16 merely comprises a pair of longitudinal side compression members, such as illustrated at 34, connected between opposite ends of each of the two longitudinally spaced auxiliary end support members 15 and adapted to have suflicient compressive strength to maintain them in the proper longitudinally spaced relationship illustrated in FIG. 1 under the minimal stresses tending to pull said support bars 15 toward each other when a person reclines on the air mattress 19 and the attachment end portions 14 of the lower tension panel member 13 apply minimal tension stresses to said end support bar members 15 in the manner described above. Since said stresses are minimal, as described above, the side compression bar members 34 may be of relatively weak and correspondingly lightweight construction.

Also, in the exemplary form of the invention illustrated, the framework means 16 includes a pair of substantially U-shaped supporting leg means 35 at each end thereof pivotally connected by aligned pivot pins 36 (the same on each side of the framework means 16) with respect to the pair of compression side members 34 and having foldable linkage arm means 37 pivotally interconnected between said leg means 35 and side compression members 34 at pivot points as indicated at 38 and 39, and with the central portion of said linkage arm means 37 having pivotal interconnection means as indicated at 41, thus providing an arrangement making it possible to fold the linkage arm means 37 into substan tially parallel relationship of the portions thereof on each side of the pivotal interconnection means 41 which will, of course, cause the corresponding leg means 35 to be folded completely flat underneath the framework means 16 for folding and collapsing the complete framework means. On the other hand, each of said leg means 35 can be swung outwardly into an opened position, such as is shown in FIG. 1, which will cause the two portions of each linkage arm means 37 to become substantially straight and aligned, as is clearly shown in FIG. 1.

This unfolded and operative relationship of the framework means 16 may be maintained by having the two portions of each linkage arm means 37 pivot past a straight aligned relationship into slightly over-center positions with respect to the pivotal interconnection means 41 during the outward movement of the leg means 35, or by having said outward movement of the leg means 35 extend to a point slightly beyond that required to place the leg means 35 in a true vertical plane. Either arrangement will cause the framework means 16 to remain in the operative relationship shown in FIG. 1 in a stable manner until it is controllably folded into collapsed relationship.

Also, it should be noted that the compression side members 34 of the framework means (which are shown broken away in FIG. 1) may be centrally hinged, if desired, to facilitate further collapsing of the framework means 16, and means may be provided for selectively overriding and immobilizing such hinge means, if desired, whereby to provide for maximum rigidity in the compression side members 34 when the framework means 16 is unfolded into the operative relationship clearly shown in FIG. 1. Such hinge means and hinge overriding means (which may merely comprise a slide sleeve adapted to slide over the hinge, or which may comprise suitable functionally equivalent means) are not shown in the figures of the drawings since such arrangements are well known in the art and do not comprise any part of the real inventive concept of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a very generalized diagrammatic schematic showing of the present invention which is illustrative of the first exemplary form illustrated in FIGS. l-5 and which is also exemplary of various other alternate forms thereof. Therefore, the elements of this figure corresponding to those of the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 are indicated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter a, however.

In FIG. 6, it will be noted that the upper panel member 12a is adapted to transfer compressive loading therefrom downwardly by the compression means, generally designated at 1% (and shown somewhat diagrammatically and schematically as a plurality of vertical compression members), to the lower tension panel member designated at 13a, which applies tension at attachment points 14a to auxiliary support members 15a. In this arrangement, it will be noted that the compression means 19a may comprise a confined compressible fluid in a manner similar to that of the air mattress means 19 shown in the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 15 or may comprise any other type of stress-transferring compression means, such as a plurality of compression members or any other functional equivalent.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 6, it should be noted that, in the event that the compression means 19a comprises confined fluid in a manner similar to that of the air mattress 19 of the first form of the invention, the upper panel member 12a may also be provided with a fluidimpervious top thin-sheet wall portion, such as that shown at 21 in the first form of the invention, and the lower tension panel member 13a may be similarly provided with a fluid-impervious lower thin-sheet wall portion similar to that shown at 22 of the air mattress 19 of the first form of the invention, or said upper panel member 12a and said lower panel member 13a may actually comprise air-impervious materials themselves and thus require no additional air-impervious top and bottom wall portions, such as shown at 21 and 22 (and corresponding air-impervious side wall portions such as shown at 23) in the first form of the invention. Of course, if the compression means 19a is not a confined pressurized fluid, then there is no necessity for the panel members 12a and 13a to either be fluid-impervious themselves or to be provided with fluid-impervious covering sheets as in the first form of the invention.

It will also be noted that FIG. 6 is not limited to any particular kind of auxiliary support members 15a nor is it limited to any kind of framework means whatsoever, but may be provided with any suitable supports and/or framework means, as desired.

The upper and lower panel member 12 and 13 of the first form of the invention and the various shape-retaining elements 28 and 32 thereof may be made of strong fabric-like material which is usually relatively porous, and the wall portions of the mattress means 19 may be made of similar material impregnated or covered with plastic, rubber, or various other elastomeric sealing materials so as to be substantially completely air-impervious. However, various other suitable materials may be employed. This is also true with respect to the end support bars 15 and the framework means 16, which are preferably made of metallic material in the exemplary first form of the invention, but which may be made of any other suitable material.

It should be noted that the interconnecting shaperetaining means shown in the first form of the invention in FIGS. 1-5 as comprising the plurality of interconnecting shpae-retaining tension strip portions 28 and the corresponding side panel poltions 32, may assume a variety of different forms within the broad scope of the present invention and are not to be construed as being specifically limited to the exemplary form illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. For example, it will be noted that, in said exemplary form of the invention, each of the interconnecting shaperetaining tension strip portions 28 is shown as being laterally directed and longitudinally spaced from the remaining plurality thereof along the lengths of the vertically spaced upper and lower panel members 12 and 13 and effectively joined thereto, and also joined with respect to the top and bottom thin-sheet wall portions 21 and 22 of the mattress 19, by the plurality of laterally directed junctions 26. However, it should be clearly noted that, if desired, the plurality of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions 28 might be longitudinally directed and laterally spaced from each other and this would, of course, also similarly reposition the junction means to comprise a plurality of longitudinally directed junctions 26, each laterally spaced from similar junctions 26. Also, both such longitudinal shape-retaining tension strip portions 28, as just referred to, and lateral ones of the kind shown at 28 in FIGS. 1-5 may be employed together. Also, various other locations and/ or orientations of said shape-retaining tension strip portions 28 may be employed and are all intended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A stress-transmitting and minimizing top-surfaceloading hammock-type mattress structure, comprising: a longitudinal upper substantially horizontal panel member having a top load-receiving surface adapted to effectively receive and carry a load thereabove; a longitudinal lower tension panel member similar to said longitudinal upper panel member but longer than same andhaving at opposite longitudinal ends thereof tension attachment portions thereof cooperable for attachment to two corresponding longitudinally spaced auxiliary, substantially horizontally directed and substantially parallel elevated end support bar members, which are so longitudinally spaced with respect to the length of said lower tension panel member as to cause it to lie in a substantially centrally downwardly looped and curved configuration closely simulating a catenary as seen in side elevation, and which hold said lower panel member elevated above a support to maintain said curved configuration; and stress-transferring compression means effectively positioned between said upper panel member and lower tension panel member and effectively compressibly coupling said upper panel member, and any load effectively carried thereabove, to said lower tension panel member by direct downward compressive stress transfer.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stresstrans-ferring compression means comprises fluid-containing mattress means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises fluid-containing mattress means having a fluid-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper panel member and having a fluidimpervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stresstransferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side fluid-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby t-o define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired fluid and for removing'same when desired.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises fluid-containing mattress means having a fluid-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper panel member and having a fluidimpervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-trans ferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side fluid-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired fluid and for removing same when desired, said upper and lower walls and said side wall portions of said mattress means being effectively provided with a plurality of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions cooperable to maintain said mattress means substantially in a desired configuration similar to that defined by said upper panel member and said lower tension panel member.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises fluid-containing mattress means having a fluid-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper panel member and having a fluidirnpervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stresstransferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side fluid-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired fluid and for removing same when desired, said upper and lower walls and said side wall portions of said mattress means being effectively provided with a plurality of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions cooperable to maintain said mattress means substantially in a desired configuration similar to that defined by said upper panel member and said lower tension panel member and being effectively apertured to provide for the free passage of fluid within said mattress mean-s throughout the complete hollow interior thereof.

6. A stress-transmitting and minimizing top-surfaceloading hammock-type mattress structure, comprising: a longitudinal upper substantially horizontal tension panel member having a top load-receiving surface adapted to effectively receive and carry a load thereabove and having at least two longitudinally spaced tension attachment end portions thereof cooperable for attachment to two corresponding longitudinally spaced auxiliary substantially horizontally directed and substantially parallel end support bar members; a longitudinal lower tension panel member similar to said longitudinal upper tension panel member but longer than same and having at opposite longitudinal ends thereof tension attachment portions thereof cooperable for attachment to said two corresponding longitudinally spaced auxiliary, substantially horizontally directed and substantially parallel elevated end support bar members, which are so longitudinally spaced with respect to the length of said lower tension panel member as to cause it to lie in a substantially centrally downwardly looped and curved configuration closely simulating a catenary as seen in side elevation, and which suspend said lower panel member in elevated relation above a support to maintain said curved configuration; and stress-transferring compression means effectively positioned between said upper and lower tension panel members and effectively c-ompressibly coupling said upper tension panel member, and any load effectively carried thereabove, to said lower tension panel member by direct downward compressive stress transfer thereto.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises air mattress means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises air mattress means having an air-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper tension panel member and having an airim-pervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side lair-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior t'herein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired quantity of air and for removing same when desired.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises air mattress means having an air-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper tension panel member and having an air-impervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side air-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired quantity of air and for removing same when desired, said upper and lower walls and said side wall portions of said mattress means being effectively provided with a pluraltiy of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions cooperable to maintain said air mattress means substantially in a desired configuration similar to that defined by said upper and lower tension panel members.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said stresstransferring compression means comprises air mattress means having an air-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper tension panel member and having an airimpervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stresstransferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side air-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired quantity of air and for removing same when desired, said upper and lower walls and said side wall portions of said mattress means being effectively provided with a plurality of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions cooperable to maintain said air mattress means substantially in a desired configuration similar to that defined by said upper and lower tension panel members and being effectively apertured to provide for the free passage of air within said air mattress means throughout the complete hollow interior thereof.

11. A stress-transmitting and minimizing top-surfaceloading hammock type mattress structure, comprising: at least two longitudinally spaced auxiliary substantially horizontally directed and substantially parallel elevated end support bar members; a longitudinal upper substantially horizontal panel member having a top load-receiving surface adapted to effectively receive and carry a load thereabove; a longitudinal lower tension panel member similar to said longitudinal upper panel member but longer than same and having at opposite longitudinal ends thereof tension attachment portions thereof attached to said two corresponding longitudinally spaced auxiliary, substantially horizontal directed and substantially parallel end support bar members, which are so longitudinally spaced with respect to the length of said lower tension panel member as to cause it to lie in a substantially centrally downwardly looped and curved configuration closely simulating a catenary as seen in side elevation, and which function to suspend said lower panel member in elevated relation above a support to maintain said curved configuration; and stress-transferring compression means effectively positioned between said upper panel member and lower tension panel member and effectively compressibly coupling said upper panel member, and any load effectively carried thereabove, to said lower tension panel member by direct downward compressive stress transfer.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said stress-transferring compression means comprises fluidcontaining mattress means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said stress-transferring compression means comprises fluidcontaining mattress means having a fluid-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper panel member and having a fluid-impervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side fluid-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired fluid and for removing same when desired.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said stress-transferring compression means comprises fluidcontaining mattress-means having a fluid-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper panel member and having a fluid-impervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side fluid-impervious thin-sheet wall portions connected to said upper and lower walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired fluid and for removing same when desired, said upper and lower walls and said side wall portions of said mattress means being effectively provided with a plurality of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions cooperable to maintain said mattress means substantially in a desired configuration similar to that defined by said upper panel member and said lower tension panel member.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said stress-transferring compression means comprises fluidcontaining mattress means having a fluid-impervious top thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said upper panel member and having a fluid-impervious lower thin-sheet wall effectively in stress-transferring relationship with respect to said lower tension panel member and having side fluid-impervious thin-sheet wall. portions connected to said upper and lower Walls whereby to define a complete enclosure and hollow interior therein, said mattress means being provided with valve means for filling same with a desired fluid and for removing same when desired, said upper and lower walls and said side wall portions of said mattress means being effectively provided with a plurality of interconnecting shape-retaining tension strip portions cooperable to maintain said mattress means substantially in a desired configuration similar to that defined by said upper panel member and said lower tension panel member and being effectively apertured to provide for the free passage of fluid within said mattress means throughout the complete hollow interior thereof.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said end support bar members are provided with rigid structurally strong but controllably collapsible and foldable supporting framework means for rigidly positioning said end support bar members in said longitudinally spaced substantially horizontal and substantially parallel relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,542,781 2/ 1951 Sawyer 5349 2,639,442 5/1953 Herzog 51 12 2,886,834 5/1959 Gilbertson 5-348 3,045,257 7/ 1962 Knapp 5-112 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STRESS-TRANSMITTING AND MINIMIZING TOP-SURFACELOADING HAMMOCK-TYPE MATTRESS STRUCTURE, COMPRISING: A LONGITUDINAL UPPER SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PANEL MEMBER HAVING A TOP LOAD-RECEIVING SURFACE ADAPTED TO EFFECTIVELY RECEIVE AND CARRY A LOAD THEREABOVE; A LONGITUDINAL LOWER TENSION PANEL MEMBER SIMILAR TO SAID LONGITUDINAL UPPER PANEL MEMBER BUT LONGER THAN SAME AND HAVING AT OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL ENDS THEREOF TENSION ATTACHMENT PORTIONS THEREOF COOPERABLE FOR ATTACHMENT TO TWO CORRESPONDING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED AUXILIARY, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ELEVATED END SUPPORT BAR MEMBERS, WHICH ARE SO LONGITUDINALLY SPACED WITH RESPECT TO THE LENGTH OF SAID LOWER TENSION PANEL MEMBER AS TO CAUSE IT TO LIE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY DOWNWARDLY LOOPED AND CURVED CONFIGURATION CLOSELY SIMULATING A CATENARY AS SEEN IN SIDE ELEVATION, AND WHICH HOLD SAID LOWER PANEL MEMBER ELEVATED ABOVE A SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN SAID CURVED CONFIGURATION; AND STRESS-TRANSFERRING COMPRESSION MEANS EFFECTIVELY POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID UPPER PANEL MEMBER AND LOWER TENSION PANEL MEMBER AND EFFECTIVELY COMPRESSIBLY COUPLING SAID UPPER PANEL MEMBER, AND ANY LOAD EFFECTIVELY CARRIED THEREABOVE, TO SAID LOWER TENSION PANEL MEMBER BY DIRECT DOWNWARD COMPRESSIVE STRESS TRANSFER. 